January 19 (SeeNews) - Moldovan prime minister Natalia Gavrilita said on Wednesday that she will push for the enforcement of a state of nationwide emergency as Russia's Gazprom threatened to cut natural gas supply until it receives the payment for January consumption.
The government will ask parliament to introduce a state of emergency in order to be able to make decisions to ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas to the country, Gavrilita said during a press briefing live-streamed online.
"This is happening because Moldovagaz, in which Gazprom holds a majority stake, has failed to find solutions to fully and timely pay for consumption. Unfortunately, Gazprom, instead of coming up with measures to ensure that the joint stock company it controls can fulfill its contractual obligations to consumers and suppliers, is threatening to leave consumers without gas," Gavrilita said.
"Under these conditions, the government considers that there is a real risk for the energy security of the country and for the citizens of Moldova, and it is forced to intervene," the prime minister added.
Moldova is now asking Gazprom to allow paying the debt for gas supplied in January in two installments, but could get the Russian company agree the delays, deputy prime minister Andrei Spinu said at the press briefing.
Moldovagaz has proposed to pay $38 million (34 million euro) to Gazprom by January 20, with $25 million left to be paid later, but did not reach an agreement with Gazprom, which is unwilling to help its subsidiary, Spinu said.
In October, Moldova's parliament introduced a 30-day state of emergency due to a shortage of natural gas supplies and because it had not managed to sign a new contract for gas deliveries with Gazprom by that time. During the state of emergency the government was able to buy gas under a simplified procedure, from various companies.
In November, Moldovagaz and Gazprom signed a new five-year contract for the supply and transit of natural gas, which stipulates that consumption must be paid for by the 20th of every month.
Gazprom owns 50% of Moldovagaz, the Moldovan government owns 35.33% and 13.44% is held by the government of Transnistria, the pro-Russian separatist republic within Moldova.
Moldova has no gas deposits of its own and covers all of its gas needs by importing the fuel from Russia.
($= 0.8778 euro)